My personal opinion is that Windows Phones are really underrated. I love the new Windows phones and really like the changes they've made with their recent software updates. They don't have all the fragmentation that bogs down Android so software support and consistent updates are excellent from what I've experienced.

I can go on and on - everywhere I look, I see references to an app that is available for Android and Iphone. Nary a mention of Windows Phone. This may be one reason why people have not been more enthusiastic about switching to this platform.

Note - I am currently a Windows 6.5 user whose contract is up in May. I would love to continue when the Win 8 phone comes up, but would really like to see a more universal acceptance of the platform.

Interesting. Are these things that you use now, or items that you want added? Since you are on 6.5 (I was on 6.5 before moving to the iphone 3G, and then to the HTC Arrive), I don't think it is possible to even use these items. Once you are in/on the platform, you will find that there are TONS of apps. You can even look through the marketplace on the web to find stuff (You can even have the app sent to your phone from the website). The "There are no apps" line just isn't true. Netflix? Evernote? Gasbuddy? IMDB? Skype? A Roku remote? All there.

Personally, there is not a single one of those apps that you mentioned that I use or would use. Amazon Cloud player? That is what the Zune Pass is for. Alternate payment methods? I use cash, or my card. I see no reason for those apps. But hey, this is America, use whatever you want :-D

I wish that SquareUP had an app, and I wish that the Yelp app was better. But I haven't found an APP that couln't be replaced by the website (Except for SquareUP). But then again, I see people all gaga over instagram, or color, or path, or stuff like that and those things are just not things that I use or would use.

Thank gawd we all have a choice in the matter. Otherwise, we would all be forced to use apple products. :-D

You are seriously suggesting a subscription service (that might not even HAVE the tracks you own) as a replacement for a (comparitively practically free, if not free outright) service that lets you listen to the music you already own? That is just about the most idiotic thing I've ever heard.

The Zune pass, (Which originally was $15 a month, could be used on 3 devices and came with 10 DRM Free downloads a month. Now currently $10 a month no free downloads, big step back, I admit it.) is great for someone that has ecclectic and ever changing tastes. Take for instance my two daughters. They go through music like it is going out of style. Because every week, it is. When an album comes out, their friends are all grousing about how they need to buy more apple credits to get the music. My kids have the new albums the day that they come out. No extra charge. Now what if you want to keep it? Just pay for it. Done.

Now, you are asking about Amazon's Cloud Service. I have bought many MP3's from Amazon for wahtever reason. They are available in the cloud player. Awesome! Or... You could just download them and add them to your device. Not to shabby, huh? But what about stuff you don't already own?

Here is an example. I run a Kielbasa Kart in the local park (www.wiebesnacken.com if you are interested.). I play music off of my phone through a bluetooth speaker that I have setup under my canopy. What is interesting, is that I have hundreds of songs on that playlist, and I didn't pay extra for any of them. If I get out there, and decide that it is not suitable for the environment, I delete it. No harm, no foul, no money lost. Now what if someone comes up and says, "I wish that you would play more Bob Dylan." You got it! I grab the phone, type in Bob Dylan, ask what their favorite song is, and BAM. It is playing on the speaker in mere moments. This is something fresh that was not in my collection. THAT is the power of the Zune Pass.

Yeah, thanks, I've worked at Microsoft, I'm very aware of how the Zune Pass works.

It is still not an analog, technically or financially, to Amazon Cloud Player. I'm not saying it's not a great value; it absolutely is, for all of the reasons you suggest. (Although I seriously SERIOUSLY question the legality of your example. I guarantee you you're not licensed for public performance, which is what you're doing.) But I maintain that "you don't need that free app; here's a paid service that does something completely different that you should use instead!" is a beyond-idiotic argument.

There's a lot of articles about NFC (near field communication) enabled phones which is what Google wallet uses coming to Apple/Windows phones supposedly this year. Hopefully these reports are accurate.

It is not idiotic at all. Amazon Cloud Player plays music that you already own. Period. You buy it, you can play it. Great! What if you don't own it? Then what do you do? You buy it, right? For about $1 each. After a few of those purchases, you could have just had a service that allows you to grab a WHOLE catalog of songs, instead of the few that you just paid for.

I have a Zunepass - I am one of the few who bought a Zune HD player. I like the Zunepass, but I don't consider them one and the same. Each has it's own strengths and weaknesses. As an Amazon Prime user, I get quite a bit of space on their cloud player site, and would like to have the ability to access it with a Windows phone.

I am sure that there are many more. If you wish, I will continue to add them whenever I run across one.